Unlikely partnership for actress

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 9

Unlikely partnership for actress

By

CHRIS MOORE

Queen Victoria and the British actress, Prunella Scales, are on the best of terms. It is an unlikely partnership — the Widow of Windsor and the former Sovereign of “Fawlty Towers.” But the relationship has been sensitive and warm. Miss Scales appeared cool, calm and admirably collected in Christchurch yesterday. She had flown in from the steamy heat of Queensland to begin a New Zealand tour of “An Evening with Queen Victoria,” an entertainment with music based on Royal journals, diaries and observations. After nearly 200 performances, Miss Scales and Queen Victoria are on the best of terms, a relaxed relationship which has enabled the former monarch of “Fawlty Towers” to delve into the legend which has surrounded Queen Victoria. Prudish, narrow-minded and bigoted? Bunkum, according to the actress who first met Queen Victoria a collection of the

Royal journals read on a Canadian tour. Edited and moulded into a script by Katrina Hendrey and with music added by Richard Burnett and lan Partridge, the work took to the stage. “But every word we use was actually written by Victoria. People find this hard to believe because the personality which emerges is so totally different from most people’s impression of the historic figure,” Miss Scales said yesterday.

“She had a very strong personality, an attractive personality to play. By no means a saint ... and in terms of acting, a very, very interesting role. There are certain characters in history which constantly fascinate — Napoleon, for example.”

The Queen also proved to be a first-rate script writer.

After hearing Miss Scales’ description of a Monarch who was “passionate, extremely flirtatious; someone who loved music and the opera,” it is hard to see a resemblance between this Victoria and the bronze matriach gazing over Christchurch’s Victoria Square. But history plays funny tricks, Miss Scales says. “She never, ever said that she was not amused or that she would be good. They are simply famous non-sayings which most people have accepted. But her determination to do her duty is extremely touching, especially when you remember that she had a very unhappy childhood.”

“An Evening with Queen Victoria” still stirs

nostalgic memories of the Empire in some unlikely places.

“There is a joke in the play about two archbishops. Normally no-one laughs at this, although we think that it’s rather funny. But when we took the production to Brunei, they fell off their chairs screaming with laughter. They also thought that it was quite amusing in Taipei.”

Prunella Scales’ earlier role as Sybil, in “Fawlty Towers” placed particular demands.

“It was the most rigidly rehearsed, beautifully observed script I’ve played. Enormous fun, but very hard work, especially in reaching the standards expected by John Cleese.”

There was more than a grain in truth in “Fawlty Towers.” A British hotel was the model for the mayhem. Royalty appears to feature largely in Miss Scales’ family life — her husband, Timothy West, portrayed Edward VII in a television series. How much of Victoria’s character has been abby her?

“You would have to ask my colleagues about that. I don’t think that I’m a bit imperious. Actors can get conceited about a particular part but I don’t think that this relates to the role they are playing. “ ‘Fawlty Towers’ arid Victoria are certainly not similar. The evening with Queen Victoria has amusing moments, but it is a portrait in words and music ... a portrait with some very human and touching moments. “In the last moments, Victoria is describing the public reaction to her jubilee. She wrote that she did not realise how much people loved her. But they did.” How has the Palace reacted to the play? "Absolutely no reaction. .1 don’t know whether any of the Royal Family has seen it, but even if they had, they would not normally comment.” How would the central character react to seeing herself portrayed for audiences in a different world? “Oh, she would have certainly been amused,” Miss Scales said